The Liebherr LR 1250.1 unplugged has made a good first impression during work on a major Sydney Metro project.
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For one of the first times in Australia, a new electric crawler crane has been deployed as a part of a trial for the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport, Station Boxes and Tunnelling (SBT) project.
The Liebherr LR 1250.1 unplugged is the world’s first battery-powered crawler crane, and it is assisting with construction at the Claremont Meadows services facility site, including shaft and tunnel excavation works.
CPB Contractors – a leading Australian and New Zealand infrastructure company – was awarded the contract to commence the build at the site in 2020.
Tunnel Manager, Conrad McNamara explains how the LR 1250.1 has added to early positive trial results.
“So far, the trial has been great – It’s a quiet machine, which is a big win for local residents, and its zero-emission operation aligns with our sustainability commitments,” said Conrad.
The LR 1250.1 has a maximum load capacity of 250 tonnes, a maximum hoist height of 148m and a maximum radius of 97m.
The CPB Claremont Meadows site team used the crane to lower heavy precast segments down to the tunnel boring machines that built the Metro tunnels.
The electric crane is still busy lifting materials into the shaft for the construction of the cross passages and the floor along the tunnels.
The electric crane can operate for eight to 10 hours and, according to CPB Contractors, it reduces emissions by 50,000 kilograms, which saves 18,750 litres of diesel fuel annually.
Conrad spoke to the “real-time” efficiency of the project.
“We’re collecting real-time data with our joint venture partners Ghella and sharing these with the manufacturer…and hopefully, once its trials are complete, we’ll see more of these units,” he said.
Ghella – an Italy-based civil engineering company, and CPB Contractors are delivering the SBT project in a joint venture.
Works include the design and construction of 9.8 kilometres of twin tunnels and excavations for stations at St Marys, Orchard Hills, Airport Business Park, Airport Terminal and Bradfield, and services facilities at Claremont Meadows and Bringelly.